May’s passion for uplifting women and her journey in community leadership began at Altria, where she volunteered for numerous initiatives aimed at empowering women, Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), and other often overlooked communities. This led to her co-founding and chairing Altria’s Asian employee resource group and serving on the boards of several AAPI nonprofits. May’s determination and work ethic were deeply influenced by her immigrant family, starting at a very young age when she worked after school and on weekends to help run their small family-owned restaurant.
Because of May’s experiences and efforts, Governor Terry McAuliffe appointed her to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, where she served as Vice Chair and Chair. Governor Ralph Northam recognized May as a “Noteworthy Asian Pacific American of Virginia” for her leadership and resilience. May serves on two nonprofit boards. She is a founding member and immediate past chair of the Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance; a member of the State Board and Richmond Chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities; a governance committee member of OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates – Central Virginia Chapter and a former board trustee of the Asian American Society of Central Virginia.
At Altria, May leads initiatives that inspire over 6,000 employees, the majority of whom live and work in the Greater Richmond Region, to engage in community giving, volunteering, and civic action. Previously, she had the opportunity to represent Altria as one of two fellows for the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship, the first business-led coalition of its kind that brought together thought leaders from across the country to focus on advancing racial equity through public policy and corporate engagement strategies.
May holds a B.A. in Journalism from New York University; is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond’s Leadership Quest; 2023 graduate of Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s Political Leaders Program; and 2024 graduate of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies’ National Leadership Academy.
May and her husband, who emigrated from the Dominican Republic as a child, are proud parents of three adult children—two daughters and a son.